CMAC: Cluster-Munition Remnants Threaten 335 Cambodian Villages
CMAC: Cluster-Munition Remnants Threaten 335 Cambodian Villages
VIENTIANE, Sept. 16, 2026 — Cambodia has called on the international community to condemn Thailand over what it alleges was the extensive use of cluster munitions during the 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict, warning that unexploded remnants continue to threaten civilians across several Cambodian provinces.
Speaking during the international conference reviewing implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane, Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) Director-General Heng Ratana said Cambodia and Thailand are not parties to the convention, but Cambodia has consistently respected its principles prohibiting the use of cluster munitions.
Heng Ratana alleged that Thai forces used large quantities of cluster munitions against Cambodian military and civilian areas during the 2025 conflict. He said approximately 120,000–130,000 rounds of 155mm artillery were fired, carrying an estimated 6–7 million submunitions. These figures are Cambodian claims and have not been independently established in the sources reviewed.
The alleged use has left dangerous remnants across Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, according to CMAC.
Heng Ratana said surveys covering 335 villages have recorded 4,244 polygons contaminated by cluster-munition remnants, covering approximately 296,096 hectares of residential, agricultural, village, socio-economic and infrastructure land.
The remnants include M42, M46 and M85 submunitions, which Cambodia says continue to pose risks to communities both now and in the future.
CMAC has previously reported identifying thousands of areas contaminated by cluster munitions across the same 335 villages, with millions of unexploded submunitions presenting a long-term humanitarian threat.
Victims seek international action
Heng Ratana said the contamination has already caused deaths and injuries among children and civilians and has affected more than 90,000 families, according to Cambodian figures.
He said victims and their families are seeking justice and called on the international community — particularly states parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions — to condemn the alleged use of cluster munitions by the Thai government and military during the 2025 conflict.
Cambodia also urged the international community to pursue measures to ensure that those responsible for violations of international law are held accountable.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions and requires states parties to address their humanitarian consequences.
Although Cambodia is not a state party to the convention, Heng Ratana said the country supports its humanitarian objectives and has accumulated decades of experience in mine and unexploded-ordnance clearance.
The Vientiane conference, running from September 14–18, provides Cambodia with an international forum to highlight the humanitarian consequences of the alleged use of cluster munitions and seek greater international support for clearance and assistance to affected communities.
Thailand has previously faced Cambodian allegations over cluster-munition use during the 2025 conflict, while the two countries remain in dispute over responsibility for military actions during the fighting. The claims concerning the quantity and circumstances of cluster-munition use should therefore be understood as Cambodian allegations unless independently verified.
